I just helped a friend with a gig where he used a QSC cardiod sub.It really did work well!Just one on one side for a 200ish outdoor gig.Plenty of kick in front and surprisingly quiet on stage.

Was it the KS212C? I heard a demo of one at Sweetwater's Gear Fest and I was impressed by the reduction in rearward bass output. It seems like a very well thought out sub, but I wondered if the design would have enough output for a typical rock/pop event. QSC lists 132dB max peak output, but in their measurement note they don't stipulate if that is whole or half space loading. Interesting that you felt that one per side provided plenty of kick for 200 peeps outdoors.

Yes I believe it was the 12.This was a beer garden venue. probably 50' wide x 75' deep.KW12 tops, single sub, side and front fills.Not rock concert levels, but plenty loud.The sub kept up just fine.Major un-subbage on 15" high stage.The sub was on stage left.

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Events. Stage, PA, Lighting and Backline rentals.Chauvet dealer. Home of the Angler.Inventor.

I really want to know how they compare to a kw181. since they are more expensive that a kw181 are they even as good when you disregard the benefits of cardiod pattern?

The cardioid sub is a 2x12" design. From what I can tell, they're probably using one of the 12"s to cancel some of the output from the other, so I wouldn't expect it to keep up output-wise with a single 18".

I walked around one a couple of times and the rearward cancellation is pretty impressive. Can't speak much to the sound or output, though - it was only the sub playing at a trade show, so there was background noise and unfamiliar music.

The cardioid sub is a 2x12" design. From what I can tell, they're probably using one of the 12"s to cancel some of the output from the other, so I wouldn't expect it to keep up output-wise with a single 18".

I walked around one a couple of times and the rearward cancellation is pretty impressive. Can't speak much to the sound or output, though - it was only the sub playing at a trade show, so there was background noise and unfamiliar music.

This was my limited experience with the sub also. Really good rear rejection (cancellation?) and nice form factor, but uncertain output level. I would be very surprised if you could do a typical rock/pop act with only one per side and two per side really cuts into the value proposition. I'd like to see QSC come out with a 15" or even an 18" version of this design.